TFIZO1: AMMAN SITREP 26 (4/03 1000 LOCAL)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001999 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2013 TAGS: AEMR AMGT PREL ASEC CASC CVIS EFIN ETRD IZ JO SUBJECT: TFIZO1: AMMAN SITREP 26 (4/03 1000 LOCAL) Classified By: DCM Gregory L. Berry for reasons 1.5 (B)(D). -------------- General Overview -------------- ¶1. (C) The Embassy will operate on a normal schedule April 3. Consular services will be open. Activities at the American Language Center will remain suspended. Movements of American staff remain restricted. -------------- Consular Issues -------------- ¶2. (U) No new issues. -------------- GOJ Actions/Statements -------------- ¶3. (C) In an interview with the official news agency Petra April 2, King Abdullah said that he is "in harmony with... our people who reject the invasion of Iraq." He said that Jordan had used its good offices with influential countries to avert the war. He said that the Iraqi people should have the right to choose their own leadership, and described as "groundless" allegations that Jordan's airspace or territory have been used for attacks on Iraq. "Frankly speaking, we have been asked to open our airspace for military airplanes, but we firmly rejected that," he said. The King's somewhat stronger public stance against the war comes in reaction to intense public pressure and nearly universal opposition to the war. -------------- Security -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Jordanian police reported no significant demonstrations last night (April 2). They are, however, expecting small demonstrations today (April 3) at the Union University near the Sports City, and at Al-Ishra University on the Airport Road south of Amman. On Friday, April 4, after prayers, the police are expecting a large march from the Hussein Mosque in downtown Amman to the Municipality of Amman offices. This march has been approved by the government. Additional demonstrations are also anticipated in Ma'an, Irbid, Salt and the Bakaa and Wahdat Camps. -------------- Economic and Trade Developments -------------- ¶5. (U) No new issues. -------------- Refugee/Humanitarian Issues -------------- ¶6. (U) No new issues. -------------- Press -------------- ¶7. (U) No new issues. GNEHM